MUSICIAN OF THE MONTH: NICOLE JORDAN
Better late than never – meet our September Musician of the Month, the talented Nicole Jordan!
Nicole lives in The Netherlands and loves to bring her eclectic background and experience to the concert stage. She is involved in many classical and cross-over collaborations with musicians from different genres. She expresses her love of music, story-telling, and interdisciplinary arts with her group, Alchemy Ensemble. Alchemy creates new theatre based on classical and traditional vocal repertoire. Alchemy is also a foundation that supports other singers with their creative projects.
Nicole has recorded and sung as a soloist with many international ensembles, and in March 2014 she made her debut with the Royal Danish Opera in the role of the Strawberry Woman in Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess. Nicole is regularly asked to create unique classical programs for festivals and is known for her excellence, energy, and easy connection with her audiences. She performs often with pianist Celia Garcia-Garcia and in 2012 they recorded their album ‘Sweet Solitude‘ with music by Samuel Barber and Canadian composer Jeff Enns. This music was the core of an Alchemy Ensemble dance production of the same name.
Nicole holds the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Music Performance Studies from Sheffield University. She has a Master of Music Psychology from Keele University, and an honours undergraduate Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Acadia University. A “singer-scholar”, Nicole has a passionate interest in the psyche of the performing artist. She has researched extensively and spoken at many conferences on the topic of musical identity. In 2012 – 2013 she was a Visiting Artist in Voice at the University of Trinidad & Tobago, Academy for the Performing Arts. Since 2014, Nicole has been an Artistic Research Coach in the Masters classical music program at the Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam, where she makes her home.
1.What is your idea of perfect happiness? First question and I already found myself struggling for an answer. The reason is that for me there is no one answer! You see, I have two distinct sides to my character: one that’s on stage and one that’s off. This means is that I can be equally happy “on show”, sharing the stage with excellent energetic musicians and an enthusiastic audience, or I can be perfectly at peace in solitude, walking in the forest, or having a quiet coffee with a friend reflecting on life and love. Both situations bring me tremendous joy, but if I did only one all the time I would really suffer: I would always feel that something was missing. This means that my happiness is not situation specific, it’s about making sure that my choices and behaviors are consistent with the needs of my body, heart, and mind. Then, I’m happy!
2. Which living singer do you most admire and why? Again, it’s impossible for me to choose just one because it’s about a type, not an individual: I particularly admire female singers who push boundaries and challenge the status quo. Some that come to mind are Leontyne Price, Bjork, Esperanza Spalding, Barbara Hannigan, Kiri te kanewa, Akua Nuaru. In fact, there are many! It’s not about genre, classical vs pop, but about strength, character and message. Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, my friend Magda Mendes, Isabel Bayrakdarian especially her CD Joyous Light. I am touched and inspired by any female singer who can stand strong, show me who they are, and send a message to the world.
…and which singer from the past? Same story as above, but of course the heavy hitters: Mahalia Jackson, Joan Sutherland, Nina Simone, Fairouz, Amy Winehouse, Billy Holiday, Whitney Houston, etc.! All strong performers with a story to tell.
3. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Again, I can’t really identify one specific thing. I see a pattern here! There are things that I’m proud of having done, such directing the Alchemy Ensemble, completing a PhD, living in Europe as a musician, and raising funds for various organizations that I find important. However, just as significant as those “bigger achievements” are the every day survival things like learning Dutch, being able to pay my mortgage, having friends and family who I love, and being healthy. I’m amazed that I’ve made it this far!
4. If you weren’t a musician, what would you like to do, all things being possible? Ok, now I have a clear answer. I could say something intelligent and romantic like being an archaeologist or a writer, both things that I have seriously considered, but you want to know a secret? I’m obsessed with the Bulk Barn! When I’m feeling lonely or blue I dream of packing it all in, moving back to Canada and applying for a job at Bulk Barn. I’m serious.
5. Where would you most like to live? Three years ago after a soul-searching year in Trinidad, my country of birth, I got a tattoo on my inner arm of a Rumi quote saying: “Wherever you stand be the soul of that place”. I have spent most of my life moving from place to place and always feeling like something was missing. I was always dissatisfied with each new country or city, but after spending all of that energy and effort looking for “something” that I could never quite find, I of course had to look at myself. I finally confronted myself and asked, “What do you need here and now?” The quiet answer came to me quite clearly: 1) I needed a peaceful home, 2) good friends, and 3) satisfying work. It was a changing moment for my heart and mind that had come after many years of turbulence: I suddenly started seeing the beauty of where I was, which happened to be, and still is, Rotterdam. So I committed to Rotterdam, and I’m in no hurry to leave. Yes, I miss “home”, meaning either Canada or Trinidad depending on the minute, but I don’t feel the urge to live anywhere else anymore. Sure, I may move again, in fact it’s quite likely given my life to this point, but I’m open to whatever comes because it’s up to me, not the place. There is another quote I like: “Bloom where you’re planted”. I really believe it.
6. Which composer (dead or alive) would you most like to have dinner with and why? Ahh, Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924), definitely. I visited his grave in Paris this summer and also record some of his songs with my friend, pianist Celia Garcia-Garcia. I love Fauré’s music and I love to sing it. It was his songs that really made me fall in love with classical music and they still touch me to this day. I also love his quote about nationalism in music during WWI (translated):
” … [music is] a language belonging to a country so far above all others that it is dragged down when it has to express feelings or individual traits that belong to any particular nation.”
To me, music can and should speak across borders.
Fauré’s life was full of music, travel, complex relationships, and a passion for creativity – all of which I personally relate to.Besides which, Fauré was supposed to have been quite a charmer! I think he would make a great dinner companion!
7. Do you have a favourite book? Do cookbooks count? ‘The Purity Cookbook: a complete book of Canadian cooking’ has been a part of my life since I was born and I suspect I’ll keep moving it with me until I die. It immediately reminds me of my mother, of Canada, and still provides excellent cooking advice. Besides, the chocolate chip cookie recipe number 134 on page 57 is the best! Minus the walnuts. 🙂
8. Tell us about your summer activities, and what you are looking forward to most this fall? Summer 2016 was just incredible. It started with my Alchemy Ensemble performing at a music festival at the stunning Keukenhof tulip gardens in Lisse, a concert with Windstreken Ensemble at the famous Tivoli in Utrecht, and a trip to Paris and a recording of Fauré songs with Celia. That was all before my three-week “holiday” in Canada! While I was back in Halifax I did a recording of Wexford Carol (arr. Jeff Enns) with Halifax Camerata and cellist Shimon Walt. This recording is to help raise funds for the Nova Scotia Youth Choir Louise Simons Scholarship. My time singing with the NSYC (then Rotary Youth Choir) was so vital for my musical development that I wanted to find a way to give back and help more young singers. People have been so generous with their time and money for this project that I’m overwhelmed. The fundraiser is on-going at www.gofundme.com/louisesimons !
As soon as I got back to The Netherlands I had a tour of the country singing a concert program of turn of the 20th century American music for the Hortus Festival with pianist Maarten van Veen. This festival performs intimate concerts in all of the botanical gardens in The Netherlands. Just amazing! Finally on Sept 3 I sang a huge outdoor concert for 30000+ people to celebrate World Harbour Days in Rotterdam. Me singing arias on a boat anchored in the middle of the Maas river in Rotterdam, all with a DJ, the Royal Marine Orchestra, and an exciting Brazilian band! I was in heaven!
This year, besides teaching Artistic Research and Music Psychology at the Codarts (Rotterdam) Conservatory, I’m really excited about coming back to Nova Scotia for two concerts: On Dec 1 I’ll be in Wolfville with the Manning Memorial Chapel Choir and on Dec 3 at First Baptist in Halifax with the Camerata Singers! These concerts will help continue to raise funds for the NSYC Louise Simons Scholarship.
I have also started a new production of the Snow Queen with Alchemy Ensemble. We have five shows in the early part of 2017. It tells the traditional story of the evil Snow Queen with a twist: what made her so cold? We’ll be using vocal music, harp, and contemporary dance to tell the tale.
It’s going to be a full year!
You can follow Nicole’s activities through her website and Facebook page.